The January window might be a distant memory, but the grapevine is already buzzing with the sound of Premier League heavyweights sharpening their kniv...
The January window might be a distant memory, but the grapevine is already buzzing with the sound of Premier League heavyweights sharpening their knives for the summer. News filtering through the GoalZaza network this morning places two of England's most impatient giants, Arsenal and Liverpool, in a direct tug of war for one of Ligue 1's most intriguing young prospects.Both Mikel Arteta and Arne Slot are believed to have opened preliminary dialogues regarding Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi. Now, I've watched this kid operate in the heart of Paulo Fonseca's system, and he is not your typical raw prospect. He reads the game with a composure that belies his years, operating in those tight central pockets where most teenagers get swallowed up. For a side like Arsenal, who crave control through the thirds, Bouaddi offers a profile of six that can glitch the press. For Liverpool, who are trying to marry heavy metal chaos with meticulous build up, he offers a new engine. The real question is who blinks first, because Lille are not in the business of selling their crown jewels on the cheap.Elsewhere in the gossip mill, Manchester City are sharpening their focus on a more domestic quarry. The chatter from Goodison Park suggests that Pep Guardiola has identified Jarrad Branthwaite as a primary target to refresh an aging defensive unit. Let's be brutally honest here. The lad has endured a stop start season riddled with knocks, but the raw physicality and that left footed poise are rare commodities. Everton, to their credit, will drive a hard bargain. They know City are desperate for a long term partner for Ruben Dias. Expect this one to drag, but the intent from the Etihad is very, very real. For Sean Dyche, losing Branthwaite would be a hammer blow, but the financial reality of survival might just force his hand.The Premier League never sleeps. It only reloads. And based on this morning's intelligence, the summer chessboard is already being set. We'll be watching the tails of these stories closely here at GoalZaza.
